Ina Garten is an American author, host of the Food Network program Barefoot Contessa, and a former staff member of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Garten had no formal training in cooking; she taught herself culinary techniques with the aid of French and New England cookbooks. Her culinary career began with her gourmet food store, Barefoot Contessa; Garten then expanded her activities to several cookbooks, magazine columns, convenience products, and a television show.